A sexual abuser who blighted the lives of three girls may spend the rest of his life in prison after he was finally brought to justice.

John Pearson, 62, manipulated, molested and raped the girls decades ago, frightening them into silence with threats and convincing them they would not be believed.

They came forward many years later and saw him sent to prison for more than two decades.

Teesside’s most senior judge said the abuse caused incalculable damage and misery.

Prosecutor Christopher Dunn said: “The defendant’s sexual abuse of each of them has had catastrophic effects upon their respective lives, each of which has been irrevocably blighted by this abuse.

“Their lives have been destroyed, psychologically destroyed.”

He said Pearson took full advantage of the youth, naivety and vulnerability of girls too young to understand what he was doing.

Pearson repeatedly touched the girls and forced them to touch him, claiming to one that it was normal.

A girl ran off and vomited, so awful was one ordeal at his hands.

Tried to kill himself

He told one girl if she told anyone she would be taken away because, he claimed, it was her fault.

Her life descended into chaos as a result of attacks on her which descended into rape.

Formerly of Redcar, the girls’ tormentor tried to kill himself and was sectioned in Roseberry Park mental health hospital when the allegations came to light decades later.

Pearson, of Rosedale Crescent, Loftus, admitted 20 charges - 11 of indecent assault, three of indecency with a child, two of child rape and four other serious sexual offences - his first ever conviction.